Ultra–Low-Power Wireless Sensing Platform - ON-1153

Project type: Innovation
Desired discipline(s): Engineering - computer / electrical, Engineering
Company: Monosens Technology Inc.
Project Length: 4 to 6 months
Preferred start date: As soon as possible.
Language requirement: English
Location(s): Toronto, ON, Canada
No. of positions: 1
Desired education level: Undergraduate/BachelorMaster's
Open to applicants registered at an institution outside of Canada: No

About the company: 

Monosens is a Canadian technology company developing advanced sensor-based solutions for industrial monitoring, predictive maintenance, and intelligent automation. Our core expertise lies in designing low-power, high-precision embedded hardware that can operate reliably in challenging environments. We focus on creating compact, wireless, and highly energy-efficient sensing platforms capable of continuous data collection, edge processing, and seamless communication with cloud or local systems.

Our technology enables organizations to gain real-time insights into machine health, operational efficiency, and system performance, helping reduce downtime and improve decision-making. We collaborate closely with research institutions and industry partners to accelerate innovation and bring cutting-edge sensing technologies into practical applications.

Monosens is currently supported through programs such as OCI in collaboration with MMRI, and we are expanding our research partnerships to strengthen the development of our next-generation embedded systems. As a hardware-focused startup, we are now seeking skilled students and researchers who can contribute to firmware development, embedded software design, signal processing, and system integration to complement our internal strengths in hardware design.

Our mission is to deliver reliable, scalable sensing technology that empowers industries to modernize, automate, and operate with higher intelligence and efficiency.

Describe the project.: 

This project focuses on the development of the next generation of Monosens’s ultra–low-power wireless sensing platform, designed for industrial monitoring, predictive maintenance, and long-term autonomous operation. The core innovation involves integrating advanced sensor hardware with a highly optimized embedded firmware architecture that enables reliable data acquisition, on-device processing, and long-range wireless communication such as LoRaWAN, all while operating under strict energy-harvesting or low-power constraints.

The primary goal of the project is to develop and validate the firmware required to operate Monosens’s custom hardware board, manage sensor interfaces, implement optimized sleep/wake cycles, and enable secure, scalable communication to a gateway or cloud platform. This will allow the company to transition from prototype hardware into a functional field-ready sensing module.

The student will work closely with the founder and hardware designer to:
• Develop embedded firmware for STM32WL, Esp32 or similar MCUs with integrated LoRa
• Implement SPI, I²C, and sensor driver integration
• Create energy-efficient firmware architectures and low-power modes
• Implement LoRaWAN communication stack, network joining, and data transmission
• Validate functionality through testing, debugging, and iterative refinement
• Support basic data handling and packaging for backend compatibility

Methodologies include embedded C/C++ development, use of STM32CubeIDE or similar tools, working with oscilloscopes and debugging probes, and iterative hardware-in-the-loop testing. The student will follow structured firmware development practices, including version control, incremental feature implementation, and validation against performance and power requirements.

This innovation project directly advances Monosense’s goal of delivering a fully integrated, long-range, energy-efficient sensing solution that can operate autonomously in real industrial environments. The project will accelerate hardware–firmware integration and significantly contribute to the commercialization of Monosens’s technology.

Required expertise/skills: 

The candidate should have strong experience in embedded systems and firmware development, preferably with microcontrollers such as STM32, ESP32, or similar platforms. Proficiency in C/C++ programming, real-time operating systems (RTOS), and low-level peripheral interface protocols such as SPI, I²C, UART, and GPIO is essential. Experience with LoRaWAN or other long-range wireless communication protocols is highly desirable.

Familiarity with energy-efficient firmware design, low-power modes, and battery management techniques will be an asset. The candidate should be comfortable working with hardware prototypes, debugging using oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and in-circuit debugging tools. Knowledge of sensor integration (accelerometers, gyroscopes, temperature, and vibration sensors) is beneficial.

Additional skills include experience with version control systems (Git), firmware testing and validation, documentation of software architecture, and iterative development practices. Strong problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and the ability to work collaboratively with a small team of hardware and software engineers are required.

Prior experience in IoT applications, predictive maintenance systems, or industrial sensor networks will be considered an asset, but not mandatory. Enthusiasm for applied research, rapid prototyping, and contributing to a commercializable technology is essential.